Sunderland City Council, in partnership with Sport England, the ASA & ASA North East Region have created a new position as Beacon Programme Head Swimming Coach, based at the new Sunderland Aquatic Centre.

Sunderland’s Aquatic Centre is a 10-lane 50m swimming pool with diving and Wellness facilities.

The post holder is to lead the development of the ASA Beacon Programme, for the ASA North East region. The Beacon Programme is an exciting new initiative targeted at delivering a quality assured, aquatics programme from Learn to Swim through to excellence. The post holder will have a key role in coaching and developing swimmers, as part of the Sunderland City Swimming Scheme.

This is a unique opportunity to establish the new ASA Beacon Programme in Sunderland from an early development stage.

Additionally, the Beacon Programme will provide enhanced mentor support to identified groups of swimmers and coaches, in the North East region. This will take the form of athlete support services, co-ordinating the North East region coaching sessions and assisting in workforce development for coaches.

The successful candidate must have a minimum of a level 3 coaching qualification, with a proven track record of developing and working with talented / elite athletes, to international level.

The successful candidate must demonstrate an ability to work as part of a team, self-drive and be proactive in organising and scheduling their work. You will also have, or be willing to work towards the ASA Level 4 Coaching Qualification.

Sunderland City Council is an equal opportunity employer and operates a no smoking policy.

For informal discussions about the post please contact Nick Sellwood, National ASA Talent Development Manager, on 07879 635567.

Information packs for the above post(s) are available by emailing your name, address, tel. no and post ref to:

askrecruitment@sunderland.gov.uk. Alternatively, telephone Ask Recruitment on 0191 520 5504 (opening times are 8.00am – 6.30pm Mon-Fri).

Closing Date: Monday 21 April 2008

Post Title: Beacon Programme - Head Swimming Coach (3 years fixed term contract)

Grade: POH (SCP44-47) £35,852 - £38,404

Hours: 37 hours per week

 

A group of twelve Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) athletes enjoyed a day of celebration in recognition of their efforts at Twickenham on 27 February, which was attended by Olympic medallist Steve Cram.

AASE equips athletes with the skills they need to compete at an international level, and recognise the talent, ability and endeavour sports people undergo to reach the top.

The event was held to mark the second year of the launch of AASE, which is now available across 10 sports disciplines, and has approximately 2000 apprentices enrolled.

It also coincided with the inaugural Apprenticeship Week, organised by the Learning and Skills Council.

This annual event celebrates the ongoing success of the apprenticeships and the benefits they bring, and events were held across the country to mark this.

A hundred apprentices attended the event along with Minster for Skills, David Lammy MP, Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Minister for Sport, Olympic silver medallist rower, Guin Batten, former professional footballer Don Goodman, and representatives from the Rugby Football Union, League Football, Lawn Tennis Association, English Cricket Board and the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA).

CEO at SkillsActive, Stephen Studd believes the lasting benefits of the scheme will serve the participants well.

“Vocational training is integral to creating a skills legacy in light of, and beyond, the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The new AASE in athletics will equip our young Olympic hopefuls with the necessary skills to compete at the top of their game,” he said.

“We hope to continue rolling out AASE across the country in more sports given the success of the programme so far.”

Minister for Skills, David Lammy MP gave his thoughts on the success of AASE.

"It's great to see apprenticeships which are helping our young people in realising their dreams in the field of sport. Our ability to compete globally both on and off the sports ground, will be determined by the opportunities afforded to our young people through training,” he said.

“Apprenticeships have a real role to play in ensuring our nation's competitiveness, which is why the government is committing more than £1billion to increase the number of apprentice places by 2011.”

The Apprenticeship also equips sportsmen and women with the skills they need to pursue a career outside of sports.

Michelle Kiff, who is leading the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence programme at the ASA was keen for more athletes to experience an even like this.

“The day was a real success for the AASE programme, and in the for the future we are looking to work with the other sports delivering AASE so we can run more events like this one, giving other AASE athletes the opportunity to attend,”

“I am really pleased with the work and the progress of all the AASE athletes on the programme.”

-ENDS-

The following athletes attended the day:

Sean King - Water Polo - Manchester Performance Centre
Helen Morris - Synchro - Aldershot Performance Centre
Beth Smith - Synchro - Aldershot Performance Centre (City of Birmingham Synchro)
Thomas Brown - Disability Swimming - Newham SC
Charles Calvert - Diving - Leeds Diving
Suzie Collins - Diving - Leeds Diving
Andrew Willis - Swimming - Bracknell SC
Chris Rowley - Swimming - Bracknell SC
Anna Jemielity - Swimming - Windsor SC
Katie Raybould - Swimming - Birmingham SC
Richard Tullet - Swimming - Birmingham SC
Lewis Mattin - Swimming - Norwich SC

For further information contact ASA Media Assistant Stephanie West on 01509 632 236, 07917 876 459 or e-mail stephanie.west@swimming.org

The Amateur Swimming Association is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

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